Electric switch and system



Dec. 4, 1934. A. R. LOCKE ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SYSTEM :5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Aug. 14, 1922 y E. E3 fl/berl P Lake Dgc. 4, 1934. A, R. LOCKE ELECTRIC SWITCH AND SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Aug; 14, 1922 v E [:1 fl/berf I? Locke fiw Patented Dec. 4, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Original application August 14, 1922, Serial No. 581,610. Divided and this application August 22, 1927, Serial No. 214,471. Renewed March 5,

11 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric systems.

It relates more particularly to a system of electrical distribution in which a plurality of circuits may be individually and selectively operated and controlled singly or in groups. I

The invention will be explained as applied to multi-colored lighting systems, such as used in and for theatre stages, auditoriums, and the like,

although it is applicable to other uses.

This application is a division of my co-pending application Serial No. 581,610, filed August 14, 1922 and which contains claims for the electric switches herein shown.

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

An embodiment of the invention and one adaptation thereof are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a switch panel mounting two switches;

Figure 2 is a vertical section through the panel.

Figure 3 is a vertical section of a master operating lever panel for cross or multi-group operation of switches;

Figure 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a switchboard showing the arrangement of 0 master operating levers for multi-group operation, and 1 Figure 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a lighting system.

Figures 1 and 2 will first be described.

The switch is shown mounted on a panel or unit for a switchboard of the dead front type.

The panel has a backboard 1 of suitable insulating material and a front plate 2 ordinarily of metal. The backboard supports the switches and terminals. The front plate is primarily for protectlng the operator from coming in contact with the live parts of the switch.

The panel is shown mounting two similar switches, each of which may control the same circuit as will be hereinafter set forth. One switch has a pair of fixed contacts 3 and 4 and a movable bridging contact blade 5. The other switch of the panel has a pair of fixed contacts 6 and '7 and a movable bridging contact blade 8.

Blade 5 is operated by a handle 9 and blade 8 is operated by a handle 10.

Since the two switches are alike they will be explained together.

Each switch has a cylindrical metal support 15 provided at its rear end with a diametrical axial slot 16 in which the associated switch blade may move. Support 15 is secured to backboard l by a pair of L-shaped feet 17. Support 15 fits through an opening front plate 2.

The front end of support 15 is provided with an annular internally threaded flange 18 forming a depression. At the bottom of this depression there is a substantially hemispherically shaped recess or socket for receiving the rounded head of a switch blade actuator 19. A threaded nipple 20, which screws into rim 18, holds actuator 19 in place in the socket of support 15. The head of actuator 19 has a rectangular recess for receiving the end of the switch blade and a hole therethrough for journalling an actuator 7 shaft 21. Shaft 21 passes through a hole in the switch blade to hold the blade in place in the recess of the actuator. The shaft 21 is freely rotatable in the head 19 and blade 5.

Actuator 19 has a stem 22 which may be threaded into the enlarged bore of the operating handle. A set screw 24 maintains the handle in the proper position on stem 22. A small hole extends from the enlarged bore of the head of the actuator and axially through stem 22. A plunger rod 25 is slidably mounted in this hole and projects beyond the outer end of the handle. Actuator shaft 21 is provided with a radial socket 26 for receiving the end of the plunger rod 25. This socket and the plunger rod form a latch for selectively locking the actuator to the shaft, so that the blade 5 may rock with the shaft.

Rod 25 has a pin 27 thereon and against which one end of a coil spring 28 rests. The other end of spring 28 rests against the end wall of the enlarged bore in the handle. This spring biases rod 25 toward the recess or socket 26 in shaft 21. The outer end of rod 25 is secured to a locking button 29. The outer end of the handle has a beveled transversely extending ridge 30 thereon. The innor end of button 29 has a registering notch 31 into which ridge 30 may lie when in alignment therewith. By turning button 29 the notch and ridge may be moved out of alignment and the button moved outward axially of the rod 25 to withdraw rod 25 from socket 26 against the tension of spring 28. When the button is turned so that the ridge will fit into the notch, spring 28 can force rod 25 into socket 26 and lock the switch blade actuator and shaft together, when the button is turned to a position at right angles the parts are unlocked or disconnected.

The switch panels 2 may be mounted in horizontally aligned groups with the actuating shaft 21 common to the groups. The switch actuators may be selectively locked to the shaft by their respective plunger rods 25 so that when a shaft is rotated the selected switches will be operated and those unlocked will not be moved.

Each movable switch blade, as 5, is provided with a generally cylindrical metal contact 32 which is insulated from the blade by an insulating sleeve 33 and secured thereto by a bolt 33. Contacts 32 of the two switches of a panel are respectively adapted to be inserted between the pairs of contacts 34 and 67 to bridge the same and complete the circuit therebetween.

Each switch panel 2 may be provided with a suitable pilot lamp mounting 34. The pilot lamp therein may be used to indicate the condition of the circuit associated with the corresponding switches.

Figures 3 and 4 show a panel for master operating levers whereby cross or multi-group operation of switches may be accomplished.

The master lever panel has a backboard 35 and a front plate 36 which may be of similar construction and of the samesize as the switch panels. Thus a switchboard may be built up of units, and additions and alterations in arrangement are made easy. The panel illustrated is provided with two similar operating levers 37 and 38 controlled respectively by master handles 39 and 40.

Each operating lever has a generally cylindrical support 41 which is provided with a vertical axial slot 42. Levers 3'7 and 38 lie in the slots of their respective supports. Support 41 is secured to backboard 35 by a pair of L-shaped legs 43.

The front end of support 41 has'a projecting Internally threaded annular flange 44 which forms a depression. At the bottom of this depression there is a substantially hemispherically shaped recess or socket for receiving the rounded head of an operating lever actuator 45. A threaded nipple 46, which screws into rim 44 holds actuator lever or handle 45 in place in the socket of support 41. The head of actuator 45 has a rectangular recess for receiving the end of the operating lever and a hole therethrough for journalling shaft 21, and in which the shaft is freely rotatable.

Ordinarily a master panel is mounted in horizontal alignment with a group or gang of switch panels so that one transverse shaft is common to a group of switches and a corresponding master handle.

Shaft 21 passes through a hole in the operating lever to hold the same in place in the actuator. Lever 37 is pivotally connected to a link 46 and lever 38 is connected to a link 47. Links 46 and 4'? are for'pivotal connection to the operating levers of other master panels as will be hereinafter explained. Actuator 45 has a stem 48 which screws into the enlarged bore of the corresponding master handle. A rod or plunger 49 slidably extends through handle 39--40 and is adapted to be inserted into and withdrawn from a socket in shaft 21. Plunger 49 is biased to inward or looking Referring to Figures 5 and 6 a plurality of circuits containing lamps are shown arranged, in groups as to location and color. For the purpose of illustration three locations and three colors of lamps for each location have been chosen. Of course the grouping may be increased or decreased or otherwise varied as desired.

The circuit for the white foot lamps l is controlled directly byeither of the two switches of panel A. The circuit for the white lamps of border No. 2 are controlled by the pair of switches of panel B and the switches of panel C control the white lamps of border No. 3. In like manner the pairs of switches of panels D, E and F control the circuits of the red lamps of the foot No. 1 border No. 2 and border No. 3, respectively, and the switches of panels G, Hand I control the circuits for blue lamps of foot No. 1 border No. 2 and border No. 3, respectively. The panels whose switches control lamps of the same color are arranged together in a horizontal group. The correspondingly located switches of each group of panels form color groups of switches.

Each of the switch panels may be like the panel shown in Figures 1 and 2 hereinbefore described. Variable resistance dimmers and the switch panel pilot lamps may be connected in the circuits in the ordinary way.

A master panel K is associated with switch panels A, B and C of the white group, a master panel L with switch panels D,E and F of the red group and a master-panel M with switch panels G, 1-1 and I of theblue group. The master panels may be like the structure shown in Figures 3 and 4 hereinbefore described. The master handles 39 of the master panels are interconnected by link 46 and the handles 40 are interconnected by link 47.

The upper handles of master panel K and switch panels A, B and C are all associated as a group with the same common shaft 21. Similarly the lower handles of panels K, A, B and C are associated with a common shaft 21a. Any combination of switches in the'same group may be connected to their respective shafts for coincident operation by turning their control buttons so that the locking plungers may enter the sockets in the corresponding shafts. This looks the linked shafts together. Then when any shaft is rotated by the operator moving one of the switch handles or a master handle, all of the switches of the group which have been connected thereto are simultaneously operated. The other switches in the group remain inactive. The interconnection of the master handles provide for the coincident operation of several groups of switches.

Briefly the operation is as follows:

Assume that the first scene requires the white foot No. 1 and white border No. 3 lamps and the second scene requires red foot No. 1 white border No. 2 and blue border No. 3. The operator locks the upper handles of switch panels A and C to upper shaft 21 and the lower handles of master K, switch panel D, switch panel B and switch panel I to their respective shafts.

For the first scene the operator throws the upper handle of either panel A or panel C into circuit closing position. If desired, especially where the switchboard is long and it is necessary or advisable for the operator to stand near one end thereof, the upper handle of master K also may be locked to upper shaft 21. When this is done the operator may move the upper master handle of panel K. When the operator throws one of the switches the corresponding shaft is rotated carrying with it all of the other switches of the same group which have been locked thereto. Thus the operation of one of the upper switches of panels A or C, or master K if the same has been locked to the shaft, will simultaneously close the circuits for the lamps of the white foot No. 1 and white border No. 3. The circuits are completed from conductor 50 through conductor 51, contacts 4, 32 and 3 of the upper switches of panels A and C through the white foot and border No. 3 lamps to conductor 52.

The second scene has been pre-set so that when the illumination therefor is required the operator merely throws out one of the upper handles of panels K, A or C and throws in master handle 40 of panel K. The throwing out of one of the upper handles simultaneously throws out the switches locked to the associated shaft and the white ioot No. 1 and border No. 3 lamps are extinguished; -The throwing in of master handle 40 of panel K directly rotates the associated shaft 21a and, through link 47, rotates the shaft associated with the lower switches of the lower two horizontal rows or groups of switch panels. Thus the lower switches of panels I),- B and I are simultaneously closed and the red foot, No. 1 white border No. 2 and blue border No. 3 lamps are lighted.

The combinationsof vari-coloredlamps which may be produced and the pre-setting of the switches for subsequent effects may be varied to meet a wide range of conditions. The switches for individual circuits may be operated independently of other switches in the same group or other groups. They may be operated in groups and combinations of groups according to locations and colors desired. A switch may be closed individually or with others and may be subsequently opened with the same or a different grouping or individually. The switches may be pre-set for subsequent operation for several scenes in advance so that when the time for change arrives the work of the operator is reduced. The circuits are opened and closed directly so that the switchboard shows at a glance, because of the position of the handles, just which circuits are supposed to be opened and closed.

In Figure 6, wherein is shown the system of electrical distribution sought to be herein claimed, there are three groups of circuits shown, and each group is shown to contain three circuit units, the foot lights N0. 1 border No. 2 and border No. 3. Each of these contain a unit circuit having white lights, a unit red light, and a unit blue light, by way of illustration. The system may be extended to contain a greater number of groups and a larger number of circuit units in each group.

There are a pair of switches 9 and 10a in the white circuit of each group. An actuator 21 (above) actuates all of switches 9 in said groups when the shaft 21 is rocked, heretofore explained, but any one of said switches may be unlocked, or operatively disconnected from the actuator or rod 21 and the disconnected switch may be individually operated without affecting the associate switches.

The other set of switches 10a are each connected in parallel relation with its respective switch 9 and also in like manner connectable to an actuating shaft 210.. When the first switch 9 bridges contacts 3 and 4 circuit No. 1, containing the white lights, is thereby energized, and switch 10a in bridging contacts 6 and 7 will in like manner energize the same circuit. The switches 9 and 10a constitute a. pair of switches connected in parallel in the same circuit.

In like manner switches 9 and 100. control the like circuits in groups 2 and 3.

'Switches 91) and 100 in like manner control 'the circuit units containing red lights of each group. Switches 9d and 10e in like manner control the circuit units containing the blue lights ofeach group. The red light circuits and the blue light circuits are selectively controlled in a similar manner by actuator shafts 21b, 21c, 21d and 21e.

The master handles 39 and 40 may be used to rock the respective shafts. Their handles may be locked to said shafts or disconnected therefrom.

I am aware that many changes may be made, and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon, otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A system of electrical distribution including a plurality of groups of circuits; a pair of switches in each circuit unit of each of the groups; an actuator for selectively and coincidentally controlling like switches of all of the groups, and means to disconnect any switch from the actuator, one for each switch, to render said disconnected switch inoperative by said actuator.

2. A system of electrical distribution including a plurality of groups of circuits; a pair of switches in each circuit unit of each of the groups; an actuator for selectively and coincidentally controlling like switches of each pair of switches of all of the groups; another actuator for selectively and coincidentally controlling the remaining like switches of each pair of switches of all of the groups; and means for each switch for disconnecting it from its actuator to render it inoperative thereby.

3. A system of electric distribution including a plurality of circuits; a plurality of pairs of switches, one pair for each circuit; an actuator for like switches of each pair to coincidentally operate said switches; a similar actuator for the other like switches of said pairs and means to pre-set any of said switches.

4. A switchboard having a plurality of switch panels mounted in groups, each panel carrying two movable switch contacts; a master panel for each group and carrying two master operating handles; a shaft common to one master handle and one of the switches of each panel of a group; means associated with each handle and switch to operatively and selectively connect the same to the corresponding shaft, and means for connecting together a plurality of master switches for coincident operation.

5. In a theatre-lighting system, the combination with a plurality of lighting circuits, of means for controlling the lighting circuits including a plurality of lighting-circuit-control conductors, a

plurality of scene-control conductors and adjustable contact members which may be preset to selectively connect selected lighting-circuitcontrol conductors with any scene-control conductors.

6. In a theatre-lighting system, the combination with a plurality of lighting circuits, of means for controlling the lighting circuits including a plurality of lighting-circuit-control conductors,

a plurality of scene-control conductors connected to a common source of supply, the scene-control conductors having associated therewith adjustable contact members which may be preset to selectively connect selected lighting-circuit-control conductors with any scene-control conductors.

7. In combination with a plurality of load circuits, a plurality of groups of switch means therefor, a common control means for the switch means in each group, certain of said load circuits being connected to certain of said switch means, and a means individual to each switch means adapted to determine whether actuation of its said control means shall cause current to flow through said switch.

8. In a theatre-lighting system, the combination with a plurality of lighting circuits, of means for controlling the lighting circuits including a plurality of lighting-circuit-control conductors, a plurality of scene-control conductors, a group of individually adjustable switches for selectively preparing each lighting circuit-control conductor for connection to selected scene-control conductors whereby the lighting circuits to be energized may be preselected at one time for a plurality of successive scenes, and means whereby the scenecontrol conductors may be selectively connected to any selected group of lighting circuit control conductors without disturbing the operative relation of the said switches.

9. In a theater-lighting system, a plurality of lighting circuits, a plurality of groups of presettable switch means, one switch means of each group being connected to each lighting circuit, and a common control means for the switch means in each group, whereby certain switch means in each group may be preset to prepare corresponding circuits for energization and each group of switch means coincidently energized in keeping with the scenes of a production.

10. In a theater-lighting system, a plurality of lighting circuits, a plurality of groups of individually adjustable switch means, means insuring the common actuation of the switch means of a group, and a common connection from each lighting circuit toa plurality of said switch means means in each group, coincidently actuating the adjusted means in a group, and similarly actuating the means in the other groups in desired order in keeping with a production.

ALBERT R. LOCKE. 

